Unable to take the
chopper that would take her to Arteche barangays, President Arroyo
took a motor banca ride and then motored amid heavy rains brought
about by tropical storm Pablo which placed Eastern Visayas under
signal number two.
For two and a half
hours, the President traveled from the
municipality of
Sulat
through rough roads in order to fulfill her engagement at the 107th
commemoration of Balangiga Encounter at Balangiga town, also in
Eastern Samar.
Despite the typhoon, a
big crowd awaited the President at Balangiga where the President
reiterated her commitment to developing
Eastern Visayas and make it a destination worth visiting and worth
promoting to the tourists.
Although the she was
unable to go to Arteche and Guiuan, of which she was very apologetic,
the President was not easily put down. She immediately called for an
emergency meeting of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council in
Tacloban City.
And so from Balangiga,
Eastern Samar, the President traveled to the coastal road of Marabut,
Samar, passed through the San Juanico Bridge that links
Leyte and Samar, to
reach the province of Leyte.
Reaching the Park
Hotel in Tacloban City, President Arroyo graciously greeted and shook
the hands of the people waiting for her. She won the admiration of the
hotel staff when she went near the reception desk and shook the hands
of the receptionists too.
Several people
commented how she could remember the first names of people in Tacloban
whom she does not meet often and with the so many people all over the
country she comes in contact with everyday.
Another one commented,
“No wonder she always travels to the provinces. She loves people and
the people love her too.”
At 5:30 in the
afternoon, President Arroyo met with the members of the Regional
Disaster Coordinating Council. It was there when everybody learned
that storm Pablo had a land fall already between Borongan, Eastern
Samar and Catbalogan City in Samar at 5:00 o’clock that afternoon.
The President had
traveled through the storm in Eastern Visayas.
Medical Mission for
Children back in Leyte for another round of surgical mission
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center (PMRC Leyte)
October 1, 2008
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– For the third year in a row, the Medical Mission for Children (MMFC)
of Salem, Massachusetts, USA is here again in Leyte conducting a
surgical mission for children with cleft lip palette and cleft palette
at the Leyte Provincial Hospital.
Together with the
provincial government of Leyte through Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla,
the medical mission runs from September 29 to October 3 and is
targeting to operate on at least 50 to 60 patients from all over Leyte
province.
Beneficiaries of this
mission are children three months and above.
According to Leyte
Provincial Heath Director Dr. Erlinda Astorga, the Provincial Health
Office is very much thankful to the MMFC for yearly choosing the
province to conduct this mission.
“The first time they
were here was in 2006 and they came again in 2007. So we are just very
thankful that considering there are still many other countries around
the world that need their help, they still come back to
Leyte,” Dr. Astorga said.
This year, MMFC
brought with it 15 surgeons and nurses who are presently operating on
cleft lip palette and cleft palette surgery patients who were already
pre-screened by the Leyte Provincial Hospital and the different
district hospitals and municipal health centers in the province.
Dr. Astorga said the
patients’ pre-screening was conducted all for free though the
provincial government after provincial health office informed the
municipalities of this free surgical mission through the respective
local government units.
MMFC is dedicated to
providing quality surgical and dental services to poor and
under-privileged children and young adults in various countries
throughout the world as well as facilitating the transfer of
education, knowledge and recent innovations to the local medical
communities.
Medical Missions for
Children, Inc. is a non-profit organization providing free surgical,
medical, and dental care to underprivileged children and young adults
all over the world. Based in Massachusetts, MMFC is comprised of a
dedicated group of volunteer surgeons, medical specialists, dentists,
nurses, biomedical engineers, administrative and materials personnel.
MMFC currently has
13-15 missions per year to
Ecuador,
Peru, Guatemala, El Salvador, Ukraine, Rwanda, Tanzania, Mali, India
and the Philippines. In addition, new sites in Thailand, Kenya,
Ethiopia and Cameroon are planned for 2009 and 2010.
After the Leyte
Mission, MMFC is scheduled to conduct a similar outreach activity in
Gitwe, Rwanda, East Africa in November.
Silvinohanons accord
PGMA warmest welcome as 1st RP president to visit the hinterland town
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
September
30, 2008
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– Led by Mayor Eduard Gillamac, the people of the fifth class
municipality of Silvino Lobos in Northern Samar accorded a most warm
welcome to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as they honored her as
the first Philippine President to ever visit the hinterland town.
President Arroyo led
the ceremonial groundbreaking of a one-storey two-classroom school
building for Silvino Lobos Central School with a funding of about P1.3
million with a land area of 18x7 square meters. The school project
will benefit about 120 -200 school children of the Silvino Lobos
Central School.
The President also
launched National Supplemental Feeding Program with the serving of “lugaw’.
The President led in the feeding of 282 Grade I pupils of Silvino
Lobos Central School. Simultaneous feeding was also conducted in five
other schools in Silvino Lobos and in five schools at Lope de Vega.
To the delight of the
municipal officials and the people, President Arroyo promised the
completion of the Cagpanitan-Silvino Lobos Road project that would
connect the town of Silvino Lobos to the mainland of Northern Samar.
Mayor Gillamac said
that Silvino Lobos which is on a plateau and is 400 meters above sea
level, will achieve economic development once the Road Project is
completed.
From Silvino Lobos,
the President went back to the
Calbayog
Airport
to take her lunch and then motored to Lope de Vega with about 40 cars
in convoy.
People of Guiuan
eagerly awaits PGMA’s visit on Tuesday
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
September
29, 2008
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– All is set for the visit of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,
said Mayor Analiza Kwan of Guiuan,
Eastern Samar. It is not the President’s first visit but all the same, the
people are raring to be able to take a glance, much more to talk to
their beloved “Pangulong Gloria.”
Guiuan is humbled to
be the venue of a Cabinet Meeting, Mayor Kwan said, saying that such
an activity will have big impact on her municipality. Already, guests
are starting to come, Mayor Kwan said when she called the Philippine
Information Agency, and she is ready to graciously welcome them.
In order to promote
surfing and beach tourism in
Calicoan
Island
which is about three hours away from Tacloban and 20 minutes away from
the town proper by motorized banca, the President will preside over
the NEDA Cabinet meeting at the Surf Camp in Calicoan Island of Guiuan
town on September 30, Tuesday afternoon.
The Cabinet Meeting is
schedule to tackle the eco-tourism development master plan for the
Samar Island to highlight the island’s potential as a tourist
destination and map out strategies to lift Samar Island from the
bondage of poverty.
Already, the President
has caused the ongoing rehabilitation of the Guiuan Airport so that
tourists will be able to fly directly to the island.
Calicoan Island is
located in southern-most part of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, the 3rd
largest island in the Philippines. Guiuan which is being promoted as
the key destination in
Eastern Visayas, is hugged by the
Pacific Ocean on the
east and the Leyte Gulf on the west making it doubly blessed with
natural beauty.
Its eastern coastline
is characterized by miles and miles of interspersed with rugged cliffs
and crashing breakers. In contrast the western shore has surf-ringed
white sand beaches, long stretches of white sand beach and verdant
forest abutting the calm waters of the Leyte Gulf.
Calicoan Island is
known as a Surfer’s Paradise, with its rugged landscape, tropical
forest, wonderful lagoons, breathtaking white beaches, crystal-clear
water and magnificent sunlight.
Aside from its rich
bounties of nature, Guiuan which is a 3rd class municipality, is a
significant part of Philippine history. In the 16th century, when
Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines, it is believed that he
first landed on the island of Homonhon. It is probably because of this
fact that the majority of the population of the town are devout
Catholics and the town's church, the Church of the Immaculate
Conception, is one of the oldest in the country.
PGMA’s visit
highlights potentials of Samar island
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
September
27, 2008
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– As she visits the island next week, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
is not only fulfilling her SONA commitment, she is also putting into
focus the potentials of Samar Island to the entire country and the
whole world, and by doing so, the President is helping promote the
tourism potentials of the beautiful island.
President Arroyo
envisions the Central Philippines to which Eastern Visayas is a part.
In order to maximize its tourism potentials, the necessary
infrastructure support must be in place. To make the island more
accessible, President Arroyo is pushing for the fast tracking of the
construction and rehabilitation of the Maharlika Roads from Northern
Samar to Samar.
Thus, on Monday,
President Arroyo will arrive at the
Calbayog
City Airport where she will be met, among others, by Northern Samar
Governor Raul Daza, Congressman Paul Daza, Calbayog City Mayor Mel
Senen Sarmiento and other local government officials.
From there, the
President will undertake a windshield inspection of the scenic
Calbayog-Lope de Vega-Catarman Road Project which spans 47.33
kilometers and costs P643.72 million and which decreased the travel
time from Calbayog to Catarman by more than one hour.
At Lope de Vega,
President Arroyo and party will be welcomed by Mayor Erlinda Cinco and
DPWH Region 8 Director Angelito Twano, who will brief the President
ongoing and proposed infrastructure projects particularly the proposed
rehabilitation of the 44.25 kilometer Lope De Vega-San Isidro Road
which will cost P1.243 billion and which promises to make the
beautiful caves on the way more accessible to the tourists.
The President will
also lead in the groundbreaking of farm to market roads under the
Department of Agriculture’s INFRES project in the
Municipality
of Arteche, Eastern Samar. These projects will benefit not only the
commuters but most especially the farmers who then be able to market
their farm products easier.
The President is also
scheduled to inspect the Arteche-Lapinig Road Projects which will
connect the province of Eastern Samar to the second district of
Northern Samar.
Moreover, President
Arroyo is bringing in visitors as she is scheduled to meet with her
Cabinet at the Surf Camp at Calicoan Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar,
who will surely be a very good addition to the number of tourist
arrivals in the major tourist destination in Eastern Visayas.
PGMA makes history as
1st president to visit Silvino Lobos north Samar town
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
September
27, 2008
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– All of a sudden, the sleepy 5th class municipality of Silvino
Lobos in Northern Samar, has become alive with the excitement that
comes with prospect of having the privilege of being visited by the
President of Land for the first time.
President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo, fresh from her successful trip in New York to talk
about the country’s progress in achieving the Millennium Development
Goals, is scheduled to visit on September 29, the beautiful upstream
town of Silvino Lobos which is considered as the summer capital or
Little Baguio of Northern Samar because of its location, lush greenery
and rainforest that reigns supreme in the area.
Mayor Edmund Guillamac
exclaimed that the people of Silvino Lobos, is looking forward to the
scheduled visit of the President because this is the first time that
the town will be visited by the number one official of the country.
Indeed, because the
town is not that easily accessible. It could be reached by motorboat
or banca through the Pambujan River in Pambujan town which is the
third town from the capital town of Catarman. The other towns before
Pambujan are Mondragon and San Roque.
After the boat ride,
the duration of which is determined by the tide, one has to climb a
hill. But the trip is worth it as one reaches the beautiful town of
Silvino Lobos which has a year-round cool climate and verdant rain
forest and natural wonders like the Alitutungawan Falls and the
Giguemitan Lake.
There were even
wishful suggestions to capture the President’s footsteps on a cement
mixture to perpetuate the first visit of the Highest Official of the
Philippines in Silvino Lobos, reliable sources said.
But even without that,
President Arroyo will be making history in Silvino Lobos and that will
be imprinted in the hearts of the people, another source said.
During her visit, the
President will preside in the groundbreaking of two-classroom school
building at the Silvino Lobos Elementary School.
It will be an early
Christmas for the 1,500 pupils of
Silvino Lobos Elementary School
as the President leads the feeding program and distribute family
packs, school supplies and medicines.
Silvino Lobos is
one of the ten depressed municipalities of Northern Samar which have
been identified as the pilot municipalities for the President’s
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) for the extremely poor
families.
Over 400 families from
landslide-prone Southern Leyte barangays acquire new homes
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
September
27, 2008
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– After two years of waiting, over 400 families who once lived near
the ill-fated Barangay Guinsaugon, finally received the title of
ownership of their new houses which are now located in safer lands at
Barangay Magbagacay, about three kilometers away from the town proper
of Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte, Miss Vina Aquino, DSWD 8 Regional
Information Officer said.
In a simple ceremony
on September 20 which was gracesd by no less than Department of Social
Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Minister Jiro
Okuyama of the Japanese Embassy and Mr. Alberto Jugo, president and
chief executive officer of the Habitat for Humanity-Philippines, the
recipients from Barangays Ayahag, Nueva Esperanza and Sug-angon
received the proof of ownership of the duplex-type houses which were
built in cooperation with the Japanese Government and the Habitat for
Humanity.
During the turn-over
rites, 85 families from Barangay Sug-angon were provided with 1.4
hectares of land while 2 hectares were given to the 105 families of
Nueva Esperanza. For the 226 family-beneficiaries of Barangay Ayahag,
over one hectare of land was provided.
It would be recalled
that the government through the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources has identified the
said villages as similar to Barangay Guinsaugon, high risks areas for
landslide occurrences.
Southern Leyte
Governor Damian Mercado and Saint Bernard Mayor Rico Rentuza, who were
present during the activity expressed their appreciation and gratitude
for the construction of houses which brought new hopes to the
family-beneficiaries.
Secretary Cabral hoped
that the beneficiaries will take good care of their new houses and
expressed gratitude to the Japanese government for donating P27
million and to the Habitat for Humanity for donating another P8
million for the construction of the duplex houses with a floor area of
20 square meters.
On February 17,
2006, the attention of the whole world were focused at Saint Bernard,
Southern Leyte when more than 1000 residents of Barangay Guisaugon,
including 200 school children were buried alive when mudslide,
boulders and other debris from Mount Can-abag, covered the entire
barangay.
New PNP building for
Catbalogan City blessed
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA
Samar)
September 26,
2008
CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar
– Finally, after some months of being housed in a market stall at
the Catbalogan Public Market as temporary office, PNP Catbalogan City
had its new building inaugurated and blessed by Msgr. Jun Cinco,
Parish priest of Catbalogan City, Thursday.
Despite the rains,
Cabinet Secretary Gabriel Claudio, BGen. William Campos of army’s 8th
Infantry Division (8th ID), P/Chief Supt. Rey L Lañada, P/Senior Supt
Asdali Idjah Abah and Mayor Coefredo ‘Tekwa’ Uy and a host of
government officials witnessed the blessing of the P4.5 M building.
The 3-storey building
was financed by PNP Central Office through the assistance of Sec Gabby
Claudio.
In addition, the
pieces of furniture, some fixtures and the panaflex sign were provided
by the city government of Catbalogan through Mayor Uy.
Lañada reminded his
PNP troops under P/Supt Ramil Ramirez to be inspired with the new
building and be as snappy and neat as the gleaming, newly painted PNP
building.
Meanwhile, Claudio
after giving a PC unit, praised the ‘modest and decent’ new building
that will serve the needs of the new city of Catbalogan.
He praised the PNP not
only as being the protector of lives and properties but as protectors
of the morals, integrity and good name of the residents of Catbalogan
City.
He said that truly the
people of Catbalogan do not only need the support of the national
government but also deserve it.
Claudio also talked of
the incoming visit of PGMA to the region the last week of September.
Ramirez was honored
with the VIPs present who graced the occasion and treated them to a
sumptuous lunch of lechon and other native fare.
On Daram’s 59th Founding Anniversary
Mayor urges
constituents to support Mari culture projects
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA
Samar)
September 26,
2008
CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar
– As Daram celebrated its 59th founding anniversary on September 22,
2008, Mayor Lucia Astorga urged her constituents to support in her bid
to protect and enhance marine life and the coral reefs of this
municipality.
In her anniversary
message, the mayor outlined the different priority projects for this
island town purportedly rich in marine resources.
However, because of
over fishing, some illegally, Astorga reported that the town’s coral
reef expanding to some 150 hectares, only some 17.61% remains intact.
This situation, she said is dangerous and that it won’t be long before
the remaining resources will be depleted and the people of Daram may
not be able to provide for their daily needs.
To remedy the
situation, and placing fisheries and agriculture development as her
banner program, the council passed the Revised Municipal Ordinance on
Fisheries. She urged her people to understand why fishing should be
regulated and the illegal ones penalized to regain the rich marine
resources long been abused.
She took pride in
being able to establish the
Daram Sea Garden
in Southeast Daram for its potential eco-tourism site because of the
presence of live corals, aquarium fish species, clams and cultured
abalone.
With all this fishery
initiatives, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional
Director John Albaladejo and provincial counterpart Rolando Ay-ay
promised a patrol boat to secure protection of the remaining marine
resources.
As to agriculture
development, she is happy that through the Department of Agrarian
Reform (DAR) two Agrararian reform Communities (ARCs) have been
launched in Daram on the same occasion. With this, the lady mayor said
that her people won’t hesitate to produce agricultural products from
their owned lands.
Added to this are
major infrastructure projects as in Farm to Market Road that some
personalities assisted to construct. She mentioned Samar Governor
Milagrosa Tan, Second District Representative Sharee Ann Tan and An
Waray Party-list Rep. Bembem Noel. The FMRs will help bring down the
transportation cost of farm produce.
As to peace and order,
she hailed the PNP and army for providing security and maintaining
peace and order in this town. She also thanked Non-government
organizations based in Daram, like Plan Philippines for its
child-centered development projects, GIOS Samar led by Gerry Malinao
who have helped her town immensely.
The founding
anniversary that featured Handog Titulo and ARC launch was well
attended by DENR Regional Technical Director (RDT) for Land Management
Services Ramon Unay, DAR’s Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARO)
Jun Fiel, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO)
George Guillermo, Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO),
Register of Deeds, Radyo ng Bayan, PIA and a host of other well
wishers.
Despite the
onslaught of heavy rains and rough seas, boats steadily docked into
Daram’s municipal wharf to be part of the 59th funding anniversary
celebration.
Stop misleading the
public on RH bill, Couples for Christ told
Press Release
By Philippine Legislators' Committee on
Population and Development Foundation, Inc.
September 25, 2008
QUEZON CITY, Philippines
–
NGO
leaders vehemently condemn the continuous misinformation of the public
by the Couples for Christ (CfC) on House Bill 5043, or the
Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008.
For Couples for Christ
(CfC) to plea to kill RH bill is to condone more than 3500 of Filipino
women dying every year due to childbirth and pregnancy complications.
Killing the RH bill means ignoring the children left orphans by the
mothers who died of maternal deaths. For CfC to campaign to kill HB
5043 amounts to taking part in the death of these poor mothers.
“We call on the
opponents of the bill to stop propagating misinformation on the bill.
Their effort to impose their moralities on others makes them blind of
the realities around us. This is unfair for the 90% of Filipinos
clamoring for the realization of this policy” Ramon San Pascual,
Executive Director of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on
Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD), said.
San Pascual added that
the CfC’s plea to “kill the RH bill” means an appeal for the
government and our leaders to deny the Filipino people, most
especially women, of their reproductive rights and their freedom to
make informed choices.
Likewise, Ben De Leon,
President of the Forum for Family Planning and Development, also
criticized the CfC. "Ironically, the behavior of these anti-RH groups
who are mostly from the Catholic hierarchy is very un-Catholic. They
are in the forefront of a campaign to spread misinformation and lies
to the Filipino public,” De Leon said.
Meanwhile, the
Reproductive Health bill continues to grab more authors in the House
of Representatives.
“The consistent
threats and misinformation being peddled by the anti-reproductive
health (RH) bill groups are actually helping the campaign for its
passage,” San Pascual exclaimed. “In their effort to bully our
policymakers, the anti-RH groups are actually insulting the
intelligence and capacity of policymakers to decide based on facts and
their conscience.”
San Pascual pointed
out that since the inception of the anti RH groups’ vigorous
misinformation campaign and public threats issued by certain Catholic
Bishops to lawmakers, the RH bill’s authorship rose from 63 to 105.
“Their scare tactics
such as the election backlash seems to turn-off some legislators,” San
Pascual observed. “We call on the opponents to stop resorting to
mudslinging and dirty tactics. It does not do anybody any good. It
would be better to instead spend their time in working with us to
improve the bill.”
House Bill 5043 is now
being deliberated in the House of Representatives.
